as in detectives
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
the popular TV sleuth lives a much more action-packed life than do his real-world counterparts
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of sleuths
Online sleuths began digging into the rift, leading to a wave of negative press about Lively.
—
Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 28 Apr. 2026
Social media sleuths had already dug up wild comments from Russini about Vrabel and her husband before Vrabel’s decision to step away on Wednesday, but the additional posts that were found appeared to be too much for Russini.
—Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Last summer, for example, internet sleuths on Google discovered private ChatGPT conversations that had been indexed on a public website without the users realizing it.
—ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
Horrified by the secrets revealed by Bateman, Christine Marie and Katas were emboldened to go undercover as amateur sleuths.
—Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
But as sleuths have noted, there is publishing precedent for a Communion with a colon attached.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
But eagle-eyed social media sleuths have pointed out one possible problem - the picturesque place of worship nestled in the green hills of Virginia featured on the cover appears to show a United Methodist church, not a Catholic one.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
That wasn’t the only item of note internet sleuths found.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 1 Apr. 2026
For decades, the Zeigler case has fascinated the public around the world, leading to television shows, books, documentaries and a variety of crime sleuths creating various conspiracy theories.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 28 Apr. 2026
Social media sleuths had already dug up wild comments from Russini about Vrabel and her husband before Vrabel’s decision to step away on Wednesday, but the additional posts that were found appeared to be too much for Russini.
—Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Last summer, for example, internet sleuths on Google discovered private ChatGPT conversations that had been indexed on a public website without the users realizing it.
—ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
Horrified by the secrets revealed by Bateman, Christine Marie and Katas were emboldened to go undercover as amateur sleuths.
—Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
But as sleuths have noted, there is publishing precedent for a Communion with a colon attached.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
But eagle-eyed social media sleuths have pointed out one possible problem - the picturesque place of worship nestled in the green hills of Virginia featured on the cover appears to show a United Methodist church, not a Catholic one.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
That wasn’t the only item of note internet sleuths found.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 1 Apr. 2026
For decades, the Zeigler case has fascinated the public around the world, leading to television shows, books, documentaries and a variety of crime sleuths creating various conspiracy theories.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleuths
Noun
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Execution-style murder Within weeks, detectives arrested Jackson, a neighbor whose fingerprints and DNA were found inside the home, according to authorities.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
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Following his court appearance, Evanston police detectives later took Lee into custody in connection with the Mason Park shooting, according to the report.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Allison Barr/The Oregonian via AP Portland police said in a statement Saturday night that during an ensuing search of the vehicle and building, investigators located several incendiary and improvised explosive devices, some of which had partially detonated.—
Faris Tanyos,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
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DiMartino wrote in an email that KCPD plans to send a press release with details of the crash once investigators leave the scene.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sleuths.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleuths. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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